The SPR Shuttle

The vehicles in the Silk Purse Road characteristics.

  • ·         They are battery electric vehicles that hold their batteries (mainly) in the floor pan

  • ·         They have rubber tyres rather than steel wheels

  • ·         They have air suspension systems

  • ·         They have multiple door entries

  • ·         They share as many parts as possible, including, motors, wheels and tyres, motors

  • ·         The RoboCars described below, share battery systems, motors and wheels,

  • The vehicles are autonomous and therefore can operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The SPRShuttle64 seats 64 passengers. No driver is required. It runs on a conventional roadway on solid/synthetic compound tyres and is powered by battery packs. With each pack having a capacity of 100kWh and with up to 16 packs on each vehicle providing 1.15MWh -1.6MWh of energy (potentially more), the vehicle is capable to reaching Birmingham from London in 48 minutes at a cruise speed of 155mph.  It is designed to be able to reach 180mph (155mph initially) A smaller 32 seat version is also envisaged.

The SPR RoboCar6/8

The SPRS RoboCar is an 6/8 seat vehicle that operates alongside the larger shuttles.

  • Allows for customisation and diversity

  • Premium service and replaces the first class service in mainstream rail

  • Act as a service for wheelchair users or for those with disabilities

  • Allows a 24 hour service to be maintained late at night when there is low demand.

  • It can be pre booked or simply boarded at the station where there is a taxi rank style service.

  • Departure and destination can be entirely at the choice of the customer.

For a White Paper detailing the vehicles in detail including performance data and specifications email info@silkpurseroad.uk